Baltics To Calculate Damage Of Soviet Occupation, Seek Compensation

The three Baltic countries say they will "scientifically" calculate losses caused by nearly five decades of Soviet occupation and seek compensation from Russia.

Estonian Justice Minister Urmas Reinsalu said on November 6 that the claim by his country, Latvia, and Lithuania would be legally justified because Russia has declared itself as the successor of the Soviet Union after its disintegration in 1991.

The Baltic countries have talked about compensation before but never presented a sum.

Reinsalu said the three countries would not back down on their demands from Russia.

In a joint declaration signed on November 5, the Baltics states said: "It is time to arrange the relationship with the past" and seek compensation for “enormous demographic and socio-economic losses."

Russia has repeatedly rejected all calls by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania for damage compensation for Soviet rule.

The Baltic countries were forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940 by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

After three years under Nazi occupation, they were retaken by the Soviets in 1944, remaining under Moscow's rule until independence in 1991.